Raising awareness among young apprentices about early pregnancies in Tori-Bossito : An initiative of the women of UP Renewal

To Tori-Bossito, commune located in the Atlantique department, the women of the Progressive Union Renewal party (UPR) are concerned about young girls apprentices. Philomène Chincoun, Municipal councilor of Tori-Bossito, Eugénie Sogbossi Aguessy, president of the artisans of the commune and Dorcas Dogbo, all, members of the UPR organized Thursday 20 September 2023, information sessions, of education and communication for young girls who are apprentice craftsmen in the municipality on early pregnancies in the midst of their apprenticeship.

Indeed, These activities are part of the “Female Leadership in Benin” program piloted by the Network of Women Elected Councilors of Benin. (RéFEC-Benin) now Network of Elected Women of Africa (REFELA). They were approximately 150 young girls apprentice artisans from the commune of Tori-Bossito who attended this important session. “I made a bitter observation in the commune of Tori. Every time I go to the training workshops, I notice that the girls who have started their training are unable to complete it. And for good reason, they get pregnant quickly and abandon training”, said Philomène Chincoun, member of the political bureau of the UPR. She notes that “some of them take abortion pills”. And, " Unfortunately, they succumb to this practice”.
Flore and Emma Mongbo from the NGO SINDO were asked to lead this training workshop. This activity was done in the conference room then outdoors. The animation which took place in fon (most of them being out of school or having never been to school) demonstrated to young apprentice girls from the commune of Tori-Bossito, the need to complete their training without becoming pregnant early. The objective being to make them, accomplished women for quality succession.

For the president of the NGO SINDO, there will be no question of falling into the trap of boys to compromise your future. She used her own experience to show the danger that awaits young girls who give in to boys while still in training.. The consequence of such an act is the risk of abandoning. At the end of the day, young girls who fall into the trap, are abandoned to their own fate. Worse, some become slaves for their spouse since they have nothing on hand to take care of themselves.. She advised young girls that “their profession is their future”.
At the end of these conferences, the young female apprentices left happy to have learned many things. They promised to implement them. These young apprentices welcomed the initiation of the women of the Progressive Union of Renewal and wished for the multiplication of these sessions.
Patrice ADJAHO